Halloween Sugar Cookies

This is a basic sugar cookie recipe you can use for every holiday. Cut the prepared dough with halloween design cookie cutters. Then gather your sugar sprinkles, and crystals, and whipped frosting to decorate. If you are watching you sugar intake, replace the 2 cups of sugar with 1 cup of Splenda® Sugar blend. Cookies will have the same sweet taste with half the sugar.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cups butter, softened
• 2 Cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 Cups all-purpose flour
• 2 Teaspoons baking powder
• 1 Teaspoon salt



Preparation:

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight). Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter, and sprinke with orange, green, black and white sugar crystals. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Beef Curry - Indian Recipe

This beef curry recipe is a spicy Indian dish. The word "curry" is an anglicised version of the word "kari". It means "gravy" or "sauce", rather than "spices". In South Indian languages, it means side-dish , which can be eaten along with rice or bread. Turmeric is from the ginger family. It has a distinct, slightly bitter, and peppery flavor. This recipe is full of robust flavors and scents.

Ingredients:

1 Lb. Lean Beef, cubed
1 Tomato, sliced
1 Onion, sliced
1 t Fresh Ginger, chopped
1 t Garlic, minced
3 Green Chilies
5 Curry leaves
1 t Turmeric
1/2 t Chili powder
1/4 t Coriander
1/2 t Mustard seed
1/2 t Salt
1/2 t Pepper
2 C water

Preparation:

In a large pan saute onions, chilies, ginger, mustard seeds, curry leaves and garlic. Stir onions and cook until browned. Add cubed beef and cook until browned. Reduce heat to medium, add turmeric, chili powder, coriander, and salt and pepper. Simmer a few minutes. Add sliced tomato and water. Reduce heat to low, and simmer until the mixture thickens. Makes 6 servings. Serve with white rice.

Muesli Breakfast Bars

Muesli bars is a heart-healthy recipe loaded with protein. Many of these ingredients you will already have in your pantry. A little history about it, Muesli is a breakfast cereal, which consists of uncooked rolled oats, fruit and nuts. It was developed around 1900 by a Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner. Muesli supports a healthy diet. It can help lower blood cholesterol. It is also rich in fiber and trace minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. Muesli without sweetener has a low glycemic index, this recipe does contain honey.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 Cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 Cup soy flour
• 1/2 Cup fat-free dry milk
• 1/2 Cup toasted wheat germ
• 1/2 Cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 1/2 Cup dried apples, chopped
• 1/2 Cup raisins
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Cup dark honey
• 1/2 Cup unsalted peanut butter
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract







Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 325 F. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, dry milk, wheat germ, almonds, apples, raisins and salt. Stir well.

In a saucepan, stir honey, peanut butter and olive oil over medium-low heat until well blended. Don't let boil. Stir in vanilla. Add the warm honey mixture to dry ingredients and stir quickly until well combined. The mixture should be sticky, but not wet.

Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Press firmly to remove any air. Bake just until the edges begin to brown, about 25 minutes.

Cool for 10 minutes in pan, cut into 24 bars. When cool enough to handle, remove bars from the pan and place on rack to cool completely. Store the bars in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Makes 24 bars.

Hummus dip - Low-Fat recipe

Hummus is an easy low-fat recipe made with garbanzo beans. Tahini is a sesame paste that can be found in any international market as well as most health food stores. You can make this recipes with freshly cooked garbanzo beans, or just use the canned beans. This recipes makes a great party dip, which is loaded with protein and fiber. Serve with fresh cut vegetables, roasted tomatoes and sliced pita bread.



Ingredients


• 2 cans garbanzos, rinsed and drained
(set aside1/4 cup liquid)
• 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 Cup lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 Teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1/4 Teaspoon paprika
• 3 Tablespoons tahini (sesame paste)
• 2 Tablespoons Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped



Preparation:

In food processor, add the garbanzos, and puree.
Combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, pepper, paprika, tahini and parsley. Blend well. Add reserved liquid, 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture is a thick spread. Serve.

Grilled Rosemary & Lemon Chicken-Low-Carb Recipe

Chicken is an excellent source of protein, and perfect if you are watching your carbohydrate intake. This recipe requires one whole chicken. This is an easy, healthy, low-carbohydate recipe. Buy the large frozen packaged ones, they are usually the best buy. Rosemary is bitter which complements chicken. It is used frequently used in the Mediterranean cuisine. Rosemary provides vitamins, like calcium, iron and vitamin B6.


Ingredients

• One whole chicken (3-4 Lbs.) cut up in 8 or 10 pieces
• 2 T Rosemary (fresh) , chopped
• 2 Cloves of garlic
• 1/4 Cup Lemon juice (fresh)
• Salt
• Pepper



Preparation:

Heat grill to medium. In a saucepan, bring 1/3 cup water and rosemary to a boil; remove from heat, cover, and let steep 5 minutes. Place the blended ingredients in a food processor. Add oil and garlic, salt and pepper. Puree until smooth; let cool.
Combine chicken and rosemary oil in a dish, and turn to coat. Cover, and let marinate at least 15 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate overnight.
Remove chicken from marinade; place on grill. Cook chicken, basting frequently with lemon juice and turning each piece over, until cooked thoroughly, about 20 to 30 minutes. Makes 4 servings. Serve with your favorite side, like Pesto!